Zhao Yuanqing handed the fragrant dew to the queen, "Mother, look."

"what is this?"

"It's fragrant dew. I asked my subordinates to refine it. It's better than spices."

In the box was a row of small glass bottles filled with colorful scented dew. The bottle stoppers were made of wood and specially carved into the shape of flowers. Each one was exquisite and lovely.

Women all love exquisite things, and the queen is no exception. She picked up a peony-shaped bottle, uncorked it, and was greeted by a refreshing peony fragrance. "It smells so good."

"Mother, apply it on your wrists or behind your ears. The fragrance will float around when you walk, and it will be very pleasant."

The queen applied the lotion as Zhao Yuanqing said, and indeed, a faint fragrance emanated from her body. Women all love fragrance, and the queen liked it right away.

"This scented lotion is really good. There's no smoke and you don't have to worry about it catching fire. It's much better than scented balls."

"I intend to take this fragrant dew to Zui Xiang Feng to sell, but I need your help, mother."

"What's the deal?"

"When the ministers come to visit the Queen Mother, please don't forget to recommend me."

"That's easy. In a few days, it will be my regular visit to the palace. I'll have a good talk with the ladies."

The Daqing Kingdom was prosperous, and the clothes and attire of the imperial concubines were often spread among the people, prompting many people to imitate them. If this perfumed dew was promoted by the queen, it would surely sell well.

"Qing'er, you went to the Cui family and asked for the things back. You made the Cui family very embarrassed. I heard that Concubine Hui made a big fuss in the palace and didn't want Zhao Baozhu to marry Cui Hao. She planned to choose a good husband for Zhao Baozhu to marry at the Skirt Tent Banquet."

Zhao Baozhu is not going to marry Cui Hao anymore? That won't do. These two ruthless people must be tied up to death.

"Mother, I have a way to get Zhao Baozhu and Cui Hao together."

"any solution?"

"Back at Yuzhen Temple, they knocked me unconscious and wanted to force me into a fait accompli. So we'll force them to do it and force them to get married."

"This is a good idea. Does Qing'er have any ideas?"

"Yes, but we have to start with the people around Zhao Baozhu."

The queen understood what she meant. Since Liuli, who was by Zhao Yuanqing's side, had been bribed, then why not bribe Zhao Baozhu's personal maid as well?

"Luzhu, go find the chief eunuch, Li Xiu."

"Yes."

Lu Zhu and Li Xiu teamed up, and Li Xiu was considered to be on the Queen's side, otherwise it would be difficult to find him for such matters.

Li Xiu arrived soon, "What are your wishes, Madam?"

"Eunuch Li, do you know the situation of Princess Rongchang's personal maid?"

Li Xiu knew everything and said, "Your Majesty, Princess Rongchang has two personal maids, one named Dujuan and the other Shaoyao, both of whom came in during the selection of palace maids.

After entering the palace, Du Juan lost contact with her family, but Shaoyao maintained close contact with her family. Every month, when she received her monthly salary, her family would wait at the back door to collect it. People said that Shaoyao's father was in poor health and needed to spend a large sum of money every month to treat his illness.

"It seems that Shaoyao is very short of money. How does Princess Rongchang treat her?"

"I heard that the jewelry that Shaoyao wears is usually given by the palace."

"Got it, Luzhu, get a box of snacks for Eunuch Li and send him out."

"Yes."

There were freshly made snacks in the kitchen. Lu Zhu took some of Li Xiu’s favorites and sent him out. The two of them had a chance to be intimate with each other.

When they were gone, the Queen said, "Let's start with these peonies."

"Mother, please don't reveal our whereabouts."

"Don't worry. In this palace, no one will believe what is said directly. Instead, people will believe what others say unintentionally. Let's just give her an unintentional word."

After the mother and daughter chatted, Zhao Yuanqing left Xianglu behind and left the palace.

"Meng Jiu, send someone to check on Shaoyao's family."

"Yes."

In less than half a day, the news was presented to Zhao Yuanqing.

Shaoyao's real name is Li Ahua. She is from Penglai, Shandong. Her parents are still alive and she has a younger brother. About ten years ago, Shaoyao entered the palace and her family also came to Chang'an. They asked someone to contact Shaoyao. Since then, Shaoyao's monthly salary and rewards have been given to her family. With Shaoyao's money, the Li family rented a shop in Chang'an to do Hubing business and lived a good life.

"Is Shaoyao's father not feeling well?"

Meng Jiu shook his head. "No, her parents are in good health. I went to see them. Her father kneads dough and makes pancakes in the kitchen, her brother waits in the restaurant, and her mother collects money and does the accounting. The family lives a good life."

Then every month, Shaoyao's family takes away her monthly allowance under the pretext that her father is sick?

Selling his daughter to the palace and cheating her of her money every month, he really doesn't treat his daughter as a human being. In that case, let's set a trap for them.

"Meng Jiu, if you do this..."

"Yes."

In Lanxiu Palace, Zhao Baozhu looked at her face in the mirror. The white scars were extremely dazzling in the sunlight. The more she looked, the angrier she became. She threw the mirror to the ground and stepped on it hard.

"Why isn't it okay? Why isn't it okay?!"

Ever since Zhao Baozhu's face was damaged, she often threw things. Everyone in the palace was used to it. The young palace maids dared not say a word. Only the two older palace maids, Shaoyao and Dujuan, dared to approach her.

Dujuan and Shaoyao stood aside. Dujuan poked Shaoyao's hand and said softly, "The princess is angry again. Go and try to calm her down."

Shaoyao didn't move, and Dujuan became anxious, "Go quickly! Only you can persuade the princess!"

Shaoyao was afraid, but seeing Zhao Baozhu's voice becoming increasingly hoarse, she had no choice but to step forward and said, "Princess, calm down and rest for a while."

It would have been better if Shaoyao hadn't tried to persuade her. Once she did, Zhao Baozhu became even angrier. Her reputation was ruined, so she had no choice but to find Cui Hao to be her husband. As a result, the Cui family's scandal became known to the whole Chang'an City, and she lost all face!

Ah——! Zhao Baozhu wants to destroy everything!

She stared fiercely at Shaoyao, whose face was rosy and pale, and the down on her face looked even more charming in the light. Zhao Baozhu said harshly, "Your face is better than mine, you lowly slave! Why! Why!"

She was so angry that she slapped him several times. Shaoyao's face immediately became red and swollen, and a trace of blood flowed from the corner of her mouth.

Seeing the blood, Zhao Baozhu's anger seemed to have found an outlet, and she beat Shaoyao even harder. Shaoyao didn't dare to resist. The more she resisted, the harder Zhao Baozhu beat her. She knelt on the ground without saying a word, waiting for Zhao Baozhu to vent enough.

Ever since Zhao Baozhu's face was ruined, she wanted to lose her temper when she saw the good faces of the palace maids, but there were many gossipy people in the palace, and she was afraid that it would get out and damage her reputation, so she didn't dare to make trouble for the younger palace maids. She only took out her anger on the two older palace maids, Dujuan and Shaoyao. After all, they had been by her side for a long time, and would not betray her no matter how much she made trouble for them.

Dujuan is more cunning than Shaoyao. After a few times, she would hide away, leaving Shaoyao alone to be beaten. Over time, Shaoyao became Zhao Baozhu's regular target for venting her anger.

When Dujuan saw Shaoyao going up, she felt relieved. She drove the young palace maids out and stood guard at the door. She waited until the noise inside stopped before she went in with a bowl of soup.

"Princess, this is the rose water I asked the kitchen to make specially. I heard that drinking it can improve your complexion. Please try it."

Zhao Baozhu yelled for a long time, and just when she was tired, she said with satisfaction, "You are so considerate."

She picked up the rose water and drank it in small sips.

Dujuan said, "Princess, Shaoyao has angered you and you have already punished her. Let her go down and wash up, so as not to spread the bad news."

After the beating, Zhao Baozhu calmed down. Seeing Shaoyao kneeling there without saying a word, she scolded, "Who are you showing off like this to? Get out of here!"

Shaoyao stood up silently, covering her face and went out.

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